Dr. Rakel explains how long-term antibiotic use affects the intestine.

Dr. Rakel:
Antibiotics are often lifesaving, obviously, but if we have to take antibiotics over a long period of time, those destroy that healthy eco system, that bacteria, those organisms that are helping us live in that symbiotic relationship. And if we don’t have that bacteria to help with that mucus that affects that intestinal permeability and allows that door to open wider so those potentially harmful bacteria and proteins can come across that barrier and stimulate inflammation in the body that might trigger a GI distress or other systemic symptoms.

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About Dr. Rakel, M.D.:
Dr. David Rakel, M.D., attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and completed a family practice residency in Greeley, Colorado. He spent the next five years in rural practice as one of two physicians staffing a 14 bed hospital in Driggs, Idaho. As medical director for Grand Targhee Ski resort in Wyoming, he developed an interest in sports medicine and received his Certificate of Added Qualification in 1999.

Dr. Rakel completed a two year fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona from 1999-2001. He joined the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine in 2001 where he teaches and practices, and is the medical director for the University of Wisconsin Health Integrative Medicine. Dave is board certified in family medicine, holistic medicine and sports medicine. He is also certified in Interactive Guided Imagery.